Introducing the METPRO Men’s 6” Broad Steel Toe External MetGuard, a durable and reliable work boot designed for tough jobs.
Men's 6" Broad Toe MetGuard. Get all-day protection for the tops of your feet and your toes with these rugged, leather metguard work boots. A leather-wrapped external metatarsal guard and a steel toe work together to help prevent injury. A soft Taibrelle lining continually wicks moisture away from your foot.
Key Features of the Carolina 599
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Broad Steel Safety Toe Cap — Meets ASTM F2413 for impact (I/75) and compression (C/75), on a wide last with room across the forefoot.
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Leather-Wrapped External MetGuard — A heavy plastic guard with a dense-foam lining, meeting ASTM F2413 Class Mt75. Mounted over the lacing, where you can see and inspect it.
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Dark Brown Crazy Horse Leather Upper — Rugged, rich full-grain leather.
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Taibrelle Lining — Continually wicks moisture away from the foot.
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Removable AG7™ Polyurethane Footbed — Carolina's comfort system with enhanced arch support.
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Electrical Hazard Rated — Tested to withstand up to 18,000 volts at 60Hz for one minute without leakage.
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Steel Shank — Holds the boot's shape under load and torque.
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Welt Construction — Stitched, not bonded; fully resoleable.
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Vibram® Heat-Resisting Outsole — A compound formulated to hold up against hot surfaces.
Built for Heat
An ordinary rubber outsole softens, deforms, and eventually delaminates on hot surfaces. A Vibram® heat-resisting compound holds its structure, which is why boots like this show up around foundries, forges, roofing kettles, and steel mills. Pair that with a welt — stitched rather than glued — and you have a sole bond that heat won't quietly undo.
An External Guard, Where You Can See It
The guard sits on the outside of the boot, over the lacing. You can inspect it after a hit, and it takes direct, repeated abuse better than a guard hidden between layers of leather. In hot metal work — where the thing landing on your instep may also be molten — that visible, replaceable barrier is exactly what you want.
What a Metatarsal Guard Actually Protects
A safety toe covers the toes and nothing else. The metatarsals — the long bones running from your toes back toward the ankle — sit exposed under thin leather on an ordinary boot. An Mt75 guard is rated to absorb a 75-pound-force impact across that whole area.
Why Choose the 599?
Steel-toe and Mt75 met protection, a broad toe box, a heat-resisting outsole, and a welt that lets you rebuild the boot instead of replacing it.
Similar Styles to Consider
Want a USA-made, union-built external metguard on a Goodyear welt? The Int CA521. Prefer a lighter cemented boot? The Gruntz CA3595. Browse all met guard boots at Overlook Boots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Mt75 rating mean?
It is the ASTM F2413 metatarsal impact classification. The guard is tested to withstand a 75-pound-force impact across the top of the foot — the same energy threshold used for the I/75 toe rating, applied to a different part of the boot.
What is the met guard made of?
A heavy plastic guard with a dense-foam lining, wrapped in leather to match the upper. It is not metal.
What does a heat-resisting outsole actually do?
It resists softening and breaking down on hot surfaces, where a standard rubber compound would deform and separate. It is not a rating for walking through fire or standing in molten metal — it extends the life of the sole in hot work.
Can the 599 be resoled?
Yes. Welt construction stitches the outsole to the upper rather than bonding it, so a cobbler can replace it when the tread wears down — worth knowing on a boot working against heat.
What does the broad toe change?
It widens the toe box across the forefoot without going up a full width. If steel toes usually pinch across the ball of your foot, this is the shape to try.
